Tree for boots or shoes.



2 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented lan. I4, |902.

(Application led Sept. 25, 1901.)

(No Model.)

wrm E 5555:

Cgi/@ax g4 Patented lan. I4, |902.

H. A. BALLARD.

TREE FOR BDOTS 0R SHOES.v

(Application filed Sept. 25, 1901.)

No. 69|,3o4.

(No Muriel.)

. rhk. QJ KM. wm. gn. m .su me) 3... J W wmv Q INVENTFQ:

ITNESEIEE: mabLf/QM UNITED STATES 'IARRIE A. BALLARD, OF ASHLAND,

PATENT OFFICE.

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

TREE FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 691,304, dated January 14, 1902.

Application filed September 25, 1901. Serial No. 76,464. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRIE A. BALLARD, of Ashland, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trees for Boots or Shoes, of which thefollowing is a specilication.

This invention has relation to trees for boots and shoes.

to One of the principal objects of the invention is the production of a tree having provisions for its easier insertion into and removal from a shoe than has rheretofore been possible. Owing to the vertical curvature of i5 the heel of the shoe-that is, the curvature from the insole toward the top of the upperit has been exceedingly difcult toV remove the tree, even when the foot has been loosely connected to the body thereof, without breakzo ing or injuring the shoe or the shape thereof, since the foot of the tree was divided from the body in a plane practically parallel to the longitudinal lines of the body or leg of the tree. According to my invention, however,

I divide the foot from the body by a section or cut which is at an inclination to the longitudinal lines of the body, whereby said foot is movable in a path substantially parallel t0 the rear end or heel portion of the back when1 3o the latter is not distended. Hence when the leg portion is withdrawn from the shoe it is moved longitudinally and at the same time bodily toward the toe of the shoe and away from the heel portion thereof, whereby there is no tendency to break or injure the shape of the shoe.

Another object is to provide a tree which will be incapable of marking or disfigurng the shoe during the treeing operation. Here- 4o tofore in extensible boot-trees the line of division between the parts has been so located that when the parts were' extended a gap or space was left between them, whereby in the use of a tool in the treeing operation the leather of the upper-was creased or marked along the corners or edges of the parts. This marring of the shoes during the treeing operation `has been the source of great annoyance; but, so far as I am aware, prior to my invention no attempt has been made success- 5o fully to obviate this difiiculty;

At the present day all boots and shoes are made with a relatively stiff counter which extends around the heelportion'of the shoe and has its ends relatively near the shank of the shoe. l take advantage of this fact in remedying the evils which have hitherto existed in trees by dividing the fore part from the rear part on a line inside the ends of the counter, so that when the said parts are sep- 6o arated the gap or space between them lies well within the counter, so that during the treeing operation the counter acts to all intents and purposes as a part of the tree in preventing the tool or iron from engaging the edges or corners of'thevparts and creasing, marring, or otherwise distiguring the upper.

Besides those indicated my invention has other objects, such as the simplification of trees of the character mentioned, the provi. 7o sion of means for stretching the upper of the shoe upon the tree, &c., all as is clearly set forth in the following specification.

In order to make the invention clear, I have illustrated upon the accompanying drawings the best embodiment thereof now known to me. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the details of construction, but that it may be embodied in other forms of trees which will readily sug- 8o gest themselves to those skilled in the art to whom this embodiment of the invention is being disclosed.

Referring to said drawings, Figure l represents in side elevation a tree embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section through the same with the parts con-v tracted. Fig. 3 represents a similar section with the parts distended. Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. sents in section the body or leg of the tree. Figs. 6 and 7 represent the method of securing the ends of the side guards to the leg. Fig. S represents a tree and shows my improved means for holding the upper part of the shoe stretched around the tree. Fig. 9 represents the stretching or holding means detached.

Fig. 5 repre- 9o On the drawings, 10 indicates the body of the tree, 11 the footpiece, and 12 the back.

The body 10 is provided With a cylindrical portion 13, rotatably mounted in a journal 14, as usual. The body and the back are hollow or grooved, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, there being attached to the body side brasses or guards 15, which overlap the back, as shown in Fig. 4. Y In this connection it Will be observed that the body is cut away for the reception of the said guards, so that the outer surfaces thereof are flush with the surfaces of the body 10 and the back 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and that the lower ends of the said side guards are. inserted in angular grooves in the body, as illustratedin Figs. 6 and 7. By reference to these figures it will be observed that each of the guards 15 is bent inward, as at 16, and then longitudinally, as at 17. In the 'body there is formed a groove 18, communicating with a second groove 19, so that the guard may be secured in place With the portions 1G and 17 lying in the grooves 18 and 19, as portrayed on the righthand side of Fig. 6. In this way the end of the side guard is prevented from springing outward so as to form a sharp edge to mar or injure the boot or shoe or the appearance thereof. In addition the side guards are secured in place by screws 20, and their free edges are beveled so that they form, as it were, continuations et' the surface ofthe back 12 and the body 10. The back 12, at its up# per or inner end, is provided with a lugor projection 21, which is located Within a notch or aperture 22 in the body, beingheld therein by a nut 23 on a screw 24, projecting rearwardly from the body. The nut 23 is held in place by a lock-nut 25, and while it holds the back from dislocation it does not interfere with itsfree movement relatively to the body.' The foot 11 has secured thereto a tongue 26, which slides in a dovetailed groove (not shown) in the body 10, said tongue being secured to the foot by screws 27.

It will be seen that the inner end of the foot or footpiece is substantially parallel with the heel portion 28 of the back, so that the movement of the foot is in lines substantially parallel to the lines of the heel portion of the back and not in lines parallel to the median longitudinal line of the body, whereby I am enabled to morev easily insert the tree into and remove it from the shoe than has hitherto been possible.l The heel portion ot' the back is of course curved, being in reality in the shape of an ogee curve; but the curvature is relatively so slight that it does not offset the benefits achieved by having the inner end of the foot at an angle to the median longitudinal line of the body. By this 'construction the movement of the legs relatively to the foot is in a direction outward from the foot, but also toward the toe thereof, so that the heel portion is not moved awayfrom the toe portion, or so as to increase the distance between the heel and toe, as where the line of division between the heel and the foot is parallel tothe lines of movement of the leg.

The tongue portion 26 of the foot is provided With a foot-catch 29, with which may be engaged the hooked end of a spring-latch 30, arranged inside the body. This latch is made of spring metal, and its end 31 'is bent at an angleY to lie in a groove 32, as shown in Fig. 2, being held in said groove by a pin 33, passed laterally through the body. This mode of fastening the latch does not tend to decrease its strength or elasticity, as would be the case if the securing means consisted of screws passed through apertures in the latch or a transverse pin were employed to lie in a groove in the latch. When the parts are eX-A tended, the latch engages the catch, but is disengaged therefrom when the parts are contracted, as will be subsequently explained.

In order to prevent the foot from dropping from the body, I employ a second spring-latch 331, secured to the body, as shown in Fig. 2, and having its free end adapted to engage a notch 34 in the tongue portion 26 when the footpiece has been moved relatively to the body.

For the purpose of extending the parts I employ a Wedge (indicated as a Whole at 35) adapted to be operated by the longitudidinally-movable spindle erred-36. This rod is adapted to be operated in the usual Way by mechanism on the machine, and it is normally held i-n inoperative position by a spring 37, which surrounds it and bea'rswith one end against the body portion and with the other end against the shoulder 38 on the rod. Said rod is provided with an aperture 39, the end walls of which are oblique to the median lines of the rod, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Within this aperture lies the Wedge 35. The said Wedge is provided With a rear edge 40, which bears against the back 12, and with a front edge 41, which bears against acrosspiece 42 in the-body, so that When the rod is moved upward or in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 the edges 40 and 41 of the wedge force the back 12 and the body 10 apart, the said back swinging about the lug or fulcruming projection 21, as shown in Fig. 3. The edge 41 is at substantially right angles to the edges 43 44, which engage the end Walls 39 of the aperture in the rod or spindle 36, so that the said wedge is enabled to move laterally with respect to the rod or spindle as the latter moves in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. In order to steady the Wedge in its movement, it is provided `Jvith rolls 45, which move in slots 4G in the body,`said slots being parallel to the engaged face of the crossbar 42 and at an angle or inclination to the rear edge 40. One side of each slot is formed by a projection 47 on the body, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. In addition the Wedge is formed with a slot 48, parallel to the edge 41, and in the slot lies a pin 49, passed transversely through the body. From this description it will be observed that when the rod 0r IOO IIO

spindle is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3 the wedge will be moved longitudinally as well as laterally of the body, whereby its edge 40 will force the back l2 about the fulcruming projection 2l to the position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to return the back when the rod or spindle is moved in the opposite direction, the wedge is provided with a Iinger or eXtension 50, the inner edge 5l of which bears against a pin 52, passed transversely through the back. The said edge 5l is at an angle to the edge 40 to compensate for the oscillatory movement of the back 12, for if the back were moved rectilinearly toward and from the body the edge 5l might be parallel to the edge Li0; but as this movement is not rectilinear it is obvious that the edge 5l must necessarily be at a slight angle to said edge 40. From this it will be observed that when the rod 36 is moved toward the bottom of the tree the Wedge will be moved in the same direction as well as laterally toward the foot and the back will be returned to closed position.

The corner made by the edges 4l and 43 bears against the spring-latch 30 when the wedge is in its inoperative position and holds the said latch out of engagement with the catch 29 to permit movement of the footpiece and body relatively to each other. As soon, however, as the wedge is moved laterally away from the latch the latter is free to engage the catch and prevent the footpiece from being moved relatively to the body.

' In order to prevent the spindle or rod from beinglaterally dislocated during longitudinal movement, its lower end bears on one side against guides 53, formed on the body, and on its other` side against the cross-piece 42, which also operates as a guide. Thus when the rod is moved it has a wedging action upon the wedge,not only moving longitudinally,but also wedging it laterally, and consequently the back is thrust outward by the action of a double wedge, as it were.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 5, I call attention to the fact that the line of division between the back and the leg is angular-that is to say, at the sole of the foot portion of the tree the body is formed or provided with a projection 60, which forms an extension of the shank. The back is formed with a socket or notch 6l, into which the projection or eX- tension ts when the parts are contracted, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The formation of this projection 60 serves a double purpose: First, it brings the line of division between the back and the body at or near the lower portion of the leg very close to the rear portion of the back, so that when the back is forced outward from the body, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the space between them which is uncovered or below the lower end of the side guards 15 is located well within the stiff counter of the shoe, and the counter, therefore, prevents the yielding of the leather int-o the crack or space and saves it from mari-ing o'r injury from the iron, and, second, the projection 60 provides for the securing of the lower ends of the brasses or side guards,` as illustrated in Fig. 6, whereby the said ends cannot spring outward, as hereinbefore indicated. The end of the projection or extension may be carried outward beyond the edges of the guards to points practically at the rear portion of the back l2, the socket 6l for the extension being correspondingly increased in depth. As before stated, by the p rovision of this extension I produce a tree the sole of which is practically solid from the tip of the toe to points very .near the rear end of the heel, so that no matter how small or short the counter of a shoe may be there is no danger that the aperture between the back and the body will be located outside or in advance of the body of the counter.

For the purpose of mechanically stretching the shoe-top upwardly and forwardly on the tree I provide novel stretching means, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. These means consist of a yielding member, such as a helical spring 55, adapted to be engaged with any one of a series of teeth or projections 56 in the front portion of the body, and it bears -upon its ends devices 57 for engagement with the shoe. As indicated, these devices consist of hooks or rings which may be engaged with the lacing-hooks on the shoe; but it is evident that in lien thereof I may employ any other fasteningorattaching devices which I may see fit to use.k This stretching means provides for the removal of wrinkles from the upper and permits of a more efficacious stretching and ironing than has hitherto been possible. The tension on the upper may be varied, as desired, by engaging the spring with one or the other of the teeth or projections 56. To operate the stretcher, it is merely necessary to bend it into U shape, to engage the fastening device with the upper, and then to engage the double portion of the spring with one or the other of the teeth 56.

Wherever I employ the term upward or upwardly in describing the movement of the spindle or the wedge, I mean away from the foot end of the leg, that term being employed for the sake of convenience and brevity and not being intended to describe merely a vertical movement, since the leg is frequently located horizontally in practical operation.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using thesame,although withoutattempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is- 1. A tree consisting of a body, a back, guards attached to one of said elements, and overlapping the other, said guards having their lower ends bent inward and lying in slots in the part to which they are attached.

2. A tree consisting of a body, a distensi- IOO TIO

IIS

ble back, guards attached to the body and overlapping the back, said guards having their ends bent laterally inward and then longitudinally, and said body having angular slots to receive said bent ends.

3. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, guards attached along their edges to the body, and provisions for securing the lower extremities of the guards to and within the said body.

4. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, a wedge located within the said body and bearing against said back, and means for moving said wedge at an inclination rearwardly and upwardly to distend said back.

5. A tree consisting oi'` a body, a distensible back, a wedge inserted between said body and said back, and an actuating rod or spindle held against lateral movement and having a sliding connection with said wedge.

6. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, a Wedge inserted betweensaid body and said back, guides for permitting said wed ge to move upward in a path inclined rearwardly to the median line of the body, and means for actuating said wedge.

7. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, a sliding wedge inserted between said body and said back, said wedge having a finger engaging a projection on the back, and means for moving said wedge.

8. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, a wedge inserted between said body and said back, said wedge having an edge as at 40 to engage the said back, and an edge as at 51 to engage a projection on said back, and means for moving said wedge.

9. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, a wedge inserted between said body and said back, and a movable rod for operating said wedge, said wedge having opposing operative edges, one of which bears against the back and the other of which bears against the body, the last-mentioned edge being upwardly and rearwardly inclined relatively to the path of movement of said rod.

10. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, a wedge inserted between said body and said back, and means for moving said wedge bodilyin a path inclined u pwardly from front to rear of said body.

11. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, a wedgeinserted between said body and said back, parallel guides for said wedge inclined relatively to the median line of said body, and means for actuating said wedge.

12. A tree consisting of a body, a distensible back, a wedge inserted between said body and said back, an actuating-rod having a slot to receive said Wedge to move it longitudinally of said body, and guides for causing said wedge to move laterally whereby said back is distended by the lateral movement of said wedge in addition to the natural wedgingaction thereof.

13. A tree consistingfof a bod-y having a guide as at 42 and grooves or ways as at 46 parallel thereto; a back having an interior surface, and a projection as at 52; and an operative wedge having an edge 41 to engage the guide 42, projections to enter the grooves or ways 46, an edge to engage the projection 62, and an edge to engage the interior surface of the back.

14. A tree having one or more teeth or projections, and a stretcher for stretching the upper of the shoe upwardly and forwardly, said stretcher consisting of an extensible member provided with attaching devices at its ends and being adapted to be engaged at its middle with said teeth or projections.

l5. A tree having one or more teeth or projections, and astretcner for stretching the upper of the shoe upwardly and forwardly, said stretcher consisting of a flexible longitudinal extensible member adapted to be doubled over said projection and having means for attachment to the shoe-upper.

1G. A tree having a series of teeth or projections, and a spring adapted to be doubled over one of said projections, and having pro- Visions for attachment to the shoe-upper.

17. A stretcher for stretching the upper of a shoe forwardly and upwardly over a tree, consisting of an extensible memberhaving means for attachmentA to the shoe-upper, said member being normally disconnected from the tree but having provisions for attachment to the tree at various points along the length thereof.

18. A tree having a movable foot, a body, and a movable back, with an angular line of division between the body and the back, the lower portion of said line being located relatively nearer the rear portion of the tree than the upper portion of said line.

19. A tree having a movable back, a body, and guards secured to the said body, the sides of said body at the shank of the sole being projected rearwardly, and said back having provisions to receive the said rearward projections.

20. A tree comprising a body having at or near the sole a rearward projection, a movable back formed to receive said projection, side guards secured to said body to overlap the back, and provisions for securing the lower ends of said guards .to said projection.

2l. A tree comprising a movable foot, a body, a movable back, and a longitudinallymovable spindle having provisions for separating the body yand the back, the said body being provided with a rearwardly-extending projection at the shank, and the back being formed with a socket to receive the said projection.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRIE A. BALLARD.

Witnesses:

JOHN E. CLANCY, J. P. DEXTER.

IIO 

